Spark Unlimited

The modern Ninja Gaiden was released a decade ago, and in that span, the series that helped define the action genre as we know it has changed little. There have been small refinements and major upheavals for franchise, namely the departure of games’ creative force Tomonobu Itagaki. But for the most part, it has stayed true to its devotion to quick-twitch gameplay and the crafting of exquisite controls that fuse input and response.

That has its benefits and drawbacks. That commitment means there’s a consistency and polish to Team Ninja’s work. Fans expect a certain type of game, and they get it. But eventually, there comes a time when the same old formula won’t cut it. A franchise needs change. It needs new blood and the developer’s latest project in conjunction with Comcept and Spark Unlimited strives for that.

Ever since Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune left Capcom, everyone has been wondering what his next project will be. Hints came earlier this year, saying the project would be codenamed Yaiba. A trailer was even released Sept. 13. But today, he cleared the air and announced that he is teaming up with Team Ninja and Spark Unlimited, developer of Lost Planet 3, to create Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z.

It probably also makes longtime fans giddy with excitement. After the disappointing Ninja Gaiden 3, this could be the shot in the arm for the venerable franchise. My gut reaction at the news is that it seems to be a right fit. Inafune’s style meshes well with Team Ninja’s series. Both do action games. Both are known for making difficult but rewarding titles. From the initial screenshots, the game has a striking cel-shaded style. I wish there was more detail though. The blood splatters are especially interesting because sometimes they look like kanji from a certain angle.

As for the gameplay and character design, the game seems to have gone through an overhaul. It looks like whomever the ninja is, he’s part robot. It’s hard to tell anything else from the images other than 1) Yes, it’s going to be bloody 2) There are robots and ninjas 3) It looks unique. No console or release date for the game have been announced yet. Side note: What if Tomonobu Itagaki’s game the Devil’s Third and Keiji Inafune’s game come out at the same time? Who would make a better game in that head-to-head matchup?